THE SACRAMENT OF HUMILITY

Jesus "humbled Himself" (Phil 2:8). He emptied Himself of the glory He shared with the Father in heaven (Jn 17:5). He stooped down to caress and wash the sandaled, road-dusty feet of those who would shortly abandon, betray, and deny Him (Jn 13:5). He set aside His glory and took on the appearance of bread and wine to become one body with us. In His eucharistic body, given for us (1 Cor 11:24), He humbly became one with us who have participated in crucifying Him through our sins (Catechism, 598). He became even more humble by greatly and gladly desiring to do all these things (Lk 22:15) for us, His beloved.

Jesus said: "What I just did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do" (Jn 13:15). This is impossible for us in our proud humanity. So Jesus gives us Himself in the Eucharist in the humble form of bread and wine. He commands us: "Take this and eat it...this is My body" (Mt 26:26). When we "eat this bread and drink this cup" (1 Cor 11:26), we "carry about in our bodies the dying" and the humility and the love of Jesus (2 Cor 4:10). We die to ourselves and let Him live in us (Gal 2:19-20). Jesus lives in us and we in Him (Jn 6:56; 17:23).

When you receive Jesus' eucharistic body and blood at Mass today, receive His humility. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord (1 Pt 5:6), and receive the total humility of the greatest Lover.

Prayer: Jesus, You gave Your body for me. I give my body to You.

Promise: "How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord." —Ps 116:12-13

Praise: "O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine."

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from April 1, 2006 through May 31, 2006.†Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 27, 2005.

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.